North Shore Lodging

With such historic towns as Salem, Marblehead, Newburyport, and Gloucester, the North Shore is a desirable get away spot for many families. Luckily, North Shore Buzz has a great North Shore Lodging section to help you find the perfect place to stay. Here are a few of the great places you will find inside the directory:

Andover Inn
The Andover Inn is a New England Country Inn located about 25 miles north of Boston on the campus of Phillips Academy, the oldest private secondary boarding school in the United States. The Inn was built in 1930 through the generosity of Thomas Cochran, Phillips Academy Class of 1890, and is of neo-Georgian architecture. The Inn is situated on the 500-acre campus of Phillips Academy, and features 23 guest rooms, a 125 seat white tablecloth restaurant and several private dining rooms.

The Sea Lion Motel & Cottages
Overlooking distant ocean views of Good Harbor Beach, the Sea Lion Motel offers a scenic, private setting where you can relax. A heated pool with ocean views, Cable TV, and air conditioning are just some of the amenities offered. The Sea Lion Motel is conveniently located on Route 127 in East Gloucester. We offer motel rooms, cottages and efficiency units. All cottages and efficiencies have full kitchens and sleep sofas.

Garrison Inn
For discerning guests, Newburyport offers the perfect lodging experience at the Garrison Inn. Built in 1809 and named in honor of the great American Abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison, our intimate 24-room boutique hotel is a refined landmark that combines highly personal service, rich historic character, and urban sophistication.

Harborside House
Welcome to Harborside House! We offer bed and breakfast lodging in Historic Marblehead on Boston’s North Shore. We’ve been happy to serve you since 1985. Aside from a marvelous view of the Marblehead Harbor, antique furnishings and period wallpapers enhance the charm of this comfortable, quiet lodging accommodation. Moreover, for our guests that are on the go, Wi-Fi hotspots are available for your PDA’s and laptops.

Remember, for a full list, visit the North Shore Lodging section of NorthShoreBuzz.com.

Holiday Decorating and Lighting Tips

It is not uncommon at all for malpractices involving holiday lights and decorations to cause fires and residential damage.  Here are several tips that can help reduce the risk of hurting your home, yourself, and others.

• Use caution with holiday decorations and whenever possible, choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials.
• Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials, and do not use candles to decorate Christmas trees.  Click here to see video on Christmas tree safety from the U.S. Fire Administration:
• Purchase only lights and electrical decorations bearing the name of an independent testing lab, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and maintenance.
• Carefully inspect new and previously used light strings and replace damaged items before plugging lights in. Do not overload extension cords.
• Check your strands of lights to determine the number of strands that may be connected.  Connect no more than three strands of push-in bulbs and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
• Always unplug lights before replacing light bulbs or fuses.
• Don’t mount lights in any way that can damage the cord’s wire insulation (i.e., using clips, not nails).

For a full list of holiday safety tips from Mass.gov, click here…

ABC Set to Film Show at Salem School

The Salem News is reporting this morning that ABC has chosen Salem High as the backdrop for a new teen mother show. It was first brought to the school committee’s attention at their Nov. 17 meeting, and was just approved Monday. The show, set to air in the Spring, is meant to be educational and will feature commentary from students and staff involved in Salem High’s “model” Teen Parent program; the oldest in the state.

Read the full article at The Salem News here…

The Emerson Inn by the Sea

Rockport, a quaint, little seaside town up by Gloucester, isn’t known for too much, but they have a few hidden gems tucked away on their shores. One of these is the Emerson Inn by the Sea. From their site:

“The Emerson by the Sea, a Rockport Massachusetts hotel, is Cape Ann’s only historic grand hotel. Referred to by many as a “baby grand,” this lovely Rockport inn is an historic gem. Thirty-six beautifully appointed rooms have been restored to reflect the quality of yesteryear, and with amenities that discerning travelers seek today, including private baths, spa tubs, private enclosed balconies, televisions and telephones. Two vacation rental cottages adjacent to the inn offer the ideal surroundings for family vacations and reunions or corporate retreats, with decks, oceanview yards and even a back yard BBQ.”

Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?  Check out their site for available dates and rates at http://www.emersoninnbythesea.com. Find more from Rockport in North Shore Buzz’s Rockport Directory.

Turkey Tips

With Thanksgiving just two days away, it’s time to start cooking! Here are some turkey tips to make sure the centerpiece of the Thankgiving dinner comes out great:

Top Ten Safe Turkey Tips

Separate Foods – Don’t cross-contaminate

• When you shop, keep the turkey away from other foods in your shopping cart.
• Place the turkey below other foods in your refrigerator in order to prevent other foods from becoming contaminated with juices from the turkey.
• Use a separate cutting boards for cooked foods and raw foods.
• Never put the cooked turkey on the unwashed plate that previously held the uncooked turkey.

Clean your hands and food surfaces often.

• Wash your hands with hot soapy water before you touch the turkey and after you use the bathroom, change diapers, and play with pets.
• Wash all cutting boards, dishes, kitchen tools and counter tops with hot soapy water after you finish fixing the turkey.

Cook foods to safe temperatures.

• Cook the turkey thoroughly. Use a food thermometer to check for doneness.
• Cook whole turkey unstuffed (or dark meat only) to 180°F
• Cook a turkey breast to 170°F

Chill foods promptly.

• It is best to thaw the turkey in the refrigerator, NOT at room temperature.

Thaw a whole turkey in the refrigerator.

• 8 to 12 pounds – 1 to 2 days
• 12 to 16 pounds – 2 to 3 days
• 16 to 20 pounds – 3 to 4 days
• 20 to 24 pounds – 4 to 5 days

In a pinch you can also thaw the turkey in cold water. Cook the thawed turkey immediately.

• Put prepared foods and leftover turkey in the refrigerator within two hours.
• Split large amounts of leftovers into small bowls and cool them in the refrigerator.

** Taken from Mass.gov

New at North Shore Buzz

Today, we will look at some of the new listings in the Danvers city directory. The new city directories at North Shore Buzz give you the ability to narrow your searches down to a specific North Shore city, and not the North Shore as a whole.

Law Offices of Erica M. Foster
Massachusetts Family Law & Real Estate Law Attorney serving all of Greater Boston Our office provides experienced legal advice and close personal attention in divorce proceedings, custody disputes, wills, and real estate transactions. We understand that legal proceedings involving families can include difficult issues to confront and we provide a supportive and experienced environment. Regarding home ownership, our office assures that your interests are protected whether you are a buyer or a seller.

Del Realty, Inc.
When you are looking for help to light your way – we are committed to our clients and work hard to achieve results for them. Because the real estate industry is becoming more sophisticated and challenging every day, you need a professional brokerage that understands the industry. Moreover, is positioned to stay ahead of the game. We can do just that for you.

Extra Innings
Established in 1996, Extra Innings is recognized as the premiere indoor baseball and softball training center. Extra Innings’ state of the art facilities are dedicated to covering all the bases and fulfilling the needs of players of all ages and abilities.

Revere Tanning
Revere Tanning Salon has been an industry leader in Massachusetts for over 15 years. Voted #1 salon by the local communities for all locations! We strive to provide a clean, professional and relaxing environment for all our clients.

Marblescott? Swamphead?

* Courtesy of SalemNews.com

There is an interesting article in the Salem News this morning about the North Shore towns of Marblehead and Swampscott. These two towns are both struggling financially, which is what sparked Swampscott Town Administrator Andrew Maylor to suggest a merger. As you would expect, this didn’t go over as well as he would have hoped. Here’s an excerpt from the article:

They come from different worlds: One lives in a kind of sheltered harbor, and the other faces the fury of the open ocean. One seems well fixed financially; the other is desperate for cash. One is known for art associations and historic preservation; the other has a big reputation in the gritty world of football.

Read On…

New England Golf Tournaments

Planning a golf tournament in New England? Golf tournaments throughout New England are popular throughout the spring, summer, and fall. We can help you have a great golf tournament, raise more money, get more players, and make your golf tournament a smashing success.

Click here to view the New England Golf Tournaments website!

The Inn at Castle Hill

The Inn at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate invites you to return to an age of innocent pursuits. Step into a timeless place of understated elegance and serenity. Located in the heart of the spectacular Crane Estate, enjoy simple, yet luxurious pleasures, and reconnect with what’s really important in life. Snug beds, hearty breakfasts, and a warm and generous staff anticipate your arrival.

All the rooms at the Inn are uniquely appointed and many feature stunning views over the salt marshes, sand dunes, and Atlantic Ocean. Though no two rooms are alike, all promise a great night’s sleep and the excitement of waking up in the magical world that is Castle Hill.

Take tea on the veranda and gaze across the spectacular coastline. Read quietly upon a sun-bathed window seat. Stroll along the miles of shoreline.

All are part of your stay.

Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? This is the best Ipswich has to offer, book your stay today! There website can be found at http://innatcastlehill.thetrustees.org. More from Ipswich can be found in the Ipswich Directory on North Shore Buzz.

Bring a Pie This Holiday Season!

With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, it’s time to start thinking about what your going to be bringing to the relatives’ houses this year. You can’t go wrong with a pie! Here’s a couple of great, and out-of-the-box recipes from AllRecipes.com:

Sweet Potato Pie:

INGREDIENTS

* 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
* 1/4 cup heavy cream
* 1 (10.75 ounce) can Campbell’s® Condensed Tomato Soup
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 3 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place potatoes in medium saucepan. Cover with water. Heat to a boil. Cover and cook 10 minutes over medium heat or until potatoes are tender. Drain. Place in mixer bowl. Add cream. Beat until potatoes are fluffy and almost smooth, using mixer at medium speed.
3. Beat soup, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir into potato mixture. Spoon potato mixture into prepared crust and place on baking sheet.
4. Bake for 1 hour or until center is almost set. Cool on wire rack to room temperature.

Fruit Pizza Puff:

INGREDIENTS

* 1 (17.3 ounce) package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets
* 1 (3.4 ounce) package vanilla chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix
* 2 cups milk
* 4 cups assorted fresh fruit (sliced strawberries, kiwis, raspberries and/or blueberries)

DIRECTIONS

1. Thaw the pastry sheets at room temperature for 40 minutes or until they’re easy to handle. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Unfold the pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Roll each sheet into a 12-inch square. Cut off the corners to make a circle. Gently press the dough with lightly floured fingers into a 12-inch circle. Place each pastry round on an ungreased baking sheet or pizza pan. Prick the pastry rounds all over with a fork.
3. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Remove the pastries from the baking sheets and cool them on wire racks.
4. Prepare the pudding mix using the milk according to the package directions. Spoon 1 cup of the pudding onto each crust and spread to within 1/2-inch of the edges. Arrange the fruit over the pudding. Cut each pizza into 8 wedges and serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate the pizzas for up to 4 hours.

For more, visit www.AllRecipes.com